RSSHurt oil well workers improve; flash fire probe ongoing
Yakima Herald-Republic
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Workers injured in a flash fire last week at the state's only active natural gas exploration well were recovering Monday as investigators continued to sort out exactly what happened.
Three workers who were initially reported in critical condition from burns were reported Monday to be in satisfactory condition by a spokesman for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
However, no update was available for a fourth man who had been taken to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland with a broken leg.
None of the injuries are life threatening, said Greg Tubbs of DHS Drilling, the rig contractor. He declined to elaborate on their conditions.
Three of the injured men worked for DHS, while the fourth worked for a sub-contractor. DHS is under contract to the well's owner, Delta Petroleum of Denver, Colo.
Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to unravel all the details of the early Friday morning fire on the deck of the well.
Investigators with the state Department of Labor and Industries have visited the remote site about 12 miles southeast of Bickleton and are continuing an investigation that could last months, said Elaine Fischer, a department spokeswoman.
Company officials with the Denver, Colo., company did not return phone messages Monday.
The well is part of an ongoing search to determine whether commercial quantities of natural gas exist in the region. It began drilling operations seven weeks ago.
The fire started when gas was accidentally released up the well as workers were removing the drilling equipment. Somehow, a spark ignited the gas causing the fire that also burned a few tarps and lubricants on the rig floor.
"It's possible that the gas hit them at the time when they were absolutely the most vulnerable," said Ron Teissere, the state's oil and gas supervisor.
The company does not appear to have violated its permit, Teissere said, and does not need the state's permission to resume drilling. He has, however, asked company officials to keep him informed of the investigation and any changes in their drilling procedure.
Teissere said the drill workers spent the weekend clearing the rig deck of equipment that fell during the fire and removing about 60 to 120 feet of pipe still in the well. They originally told him they could resume drilling by today or Wednesday, he said.
However, DHS has not decided when it will resume drilling, Tubbs said.
* Ross Courtney can be reached at 930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.
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